During these Covid-19 lockdown days things are beginning to ease up, especially in places like Napa. Here’s a great way to spend a few hours or more… Napa is less than an hour from the Bay Area (CA) and has a wonderful chain of bucolic river/wine trails (not to mention reopening wineries) like you will find few other places.
For a perfect picnic and hike/bike,
take Hwy 29 North from the San Francisco Bay area and take the Trancas Rd. exit in the city of Napa. Take the first left and you will find a plethora of eateries/ places within a block to pick up your picnic- from Trader Joes to Whole Foods to Heritage Eats {just behind Whole Foods). Heritage Eats is a favorite – get the Banh Mi sandwich or shrimp salad along with a side of their outrageous fries or brussel sprouts. Continue with your for a half mile walk down Trancas until you get to the overpass at the Napa River. A wonderful 1 mile river trail begins on the right side of the street just before crossing on the overpass. Walk or bike it. The first several pictures below give you a glimpse of this ultimate destination where you can find a bench overlooking the river to have your lunch.
VINE TRAIL
You can either continue South where the Napa River Trail picks up (Google full ‘Napa River Trail’) or double back on Trancas and cross Hwy 29 to the Napa Vine Trail, below
MORE BACKROADS
MORE BAY AREA BACKROADS IDEAS – Briones Park